Fall turkey flocks come in 2 types. Hen and this years jakes and then mature gobblers and jakes. The jakes that reached maturity last spring breeding season have basically been banned by the boss hen and will join "Batcholor Groups" for the fall and winter.

Both tyes of groups are susceptable to calling in the fall. The most comon meathod is to break up the flock and then sit down and use kee kee calls and lost bird calls to gather the brood back. The reason I say brood is that most of the hen's flock is usually made up of the poults from the spring nests.

ANOTHER way to call in the fall flock is to play "copycat" with the boss hen. The more you copy her calls, the more she will get angry, beleiving that your are challenging her position in the flock. She will sometimes come in to give the offender an 'attitude adjustment". Many times, the other birds will follow her.

As the seaso wears on, don't be surprised to see the flocks join up with each other. As food gets scarce, they will join up and roost near or with each other. It really depends on the conditions and the number of turkeys. A larger flock means more compition for food, the turkey's main concern right now.

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Sure have. That is one of those flocks like i was trying to explain The bids are looking for food and security this time of year. Hierarchy is not as imortant as security. They will keep the flock together as much as possible. Mixed flocks can have ether a boss hen or boss tom. I guess it would depend on the personality of the boss bird. An older tom will take take control over the hen. A younger tom or jake will let her be the boss. 

This time of year is all about security and food. IF they don't have reason to be afraid, they'll feel secure and they will come to the calls resembling a happy turkey or 2 enjoying a good meal of acorns and other tasty turkey treats. By breaking up a flock, their priority will c hange from on of food sources to that of security. Thet'll just about drop everything to get back together with a flock.

As you said, the area and turkey population have alot to do with the make up of a flock. The flock you saw, very likely came to the calls you were making beleiving there was a good meal there. They don't get worried to bad about something up in tree and ground blinds don't seem to bother them at all. They came in and didn't see any other birds, checked out the "buffet" and decided to move on. You MAY have gotten them closer with decoys but again, it is hard to say for sure. One thing about decoys too. Turkey decoys are great for deer hunting as well. Turkeys and deer are not afraid of each other at all. They share the same food sources as well. AND they both use each other as look outs. A deer seeing turkeys will be more relaxed about coming into an area than one that doesn't see them. Visa-versa for turkeys and deer decoys.

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I understand the fall flocking I have only witnessed the flock following the boss hen. This was a new sight for me. This flock was a surprise, I was actualy hunting deer. Archery deer and turkey season run the same time here this year. Maybe I could set up for turkey and I could get a deer to come into bow range. So far this fall I haven't had much luck with deer or turkey. Poor Me LOL

The same set up will work for both. It mainly would depend on your luck which one comes in. If things are REALLY slow, you could always try squirrel with the bow as well. But save your good arrows for turkeys and deer.

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Badger makes a good point. I you can find the roost tree and set up in a good landing zone up hill from it you might have them land in your lap. SOFT calling while they are on the roost, in fact all fall, is a good idea. happy sounds of a turkey feeding. Throw out the same calls you use in the spring and they may very well head off at a run.

ALWAYS carry plenty of arrows. In fact, I keep the old ones just for sqirrels and what not. Soetimes, I even leave them on the stand for the next hunt. That's on private land though. It's also another story. Something about how I thought I lost my arrows and quiver and got new then found them again....LOL

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